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$2B for No Product, Robots Under $3K & Australia's Massive Miss
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Title: $2B for No Product, Robots Under $3K & Australia's Massive Miss
Hosts: Scott Wilcox (W & Elycium) & Matt Perrott (BuildPass)
This week, Scotty & Matt explore the seismic shifts in AI talent acquisition, humanoid robots reaching consumer price points, and Australia's untapped potential to become a tech superpower.
Episode Highlights
The Great AI Talent Migration
- Thinking Machines raises unprecedented $2B seed round at $10B valuation with no product, just talent
- OpenAI leadership exodus creating billion-dollar startups overnight
- The new reality: buying teams vs traditional hiring in AI
Wearable AI Revolution
- Limitless pendant deep dive: AI coach vs note-taker reality check
- Future convergence of analog watches and AI technology
- De-optimization movement challenging data-driven lifestyle tracking
Robotics Breakthrough
- Hugging Face humanoid robots priced under $3K (cheaper than MacBooks)
- Open-source revolution democratizing robotics development
- Tesla robo-taxi milestone: 20+ rides with zero interventions
Australia's Trillion-Dollar Missed Opportunity
- Energy policy crisis: shipping coal while paying 10% more for domestic power
- Darwin/Geelong innovation hub vision as "Australian Shenzhen"
- Cultural barriers: tall poppy syndrome vs American business optimism
Key Segments
Headlines & Hot Takes (00:00)
- Limitless pendant early impressions
- Noosa beach remote work setup
- Thinking Machines $2B mystery round breakdown
AI Tool Showdown (32:50)
- 11 Labs conversational AI vs ChatGPT voice mode
- Y Combinator AI startup school insights
- Elon's 12-month AGI prediction analysis
Tool of the Week (48:35)
iPhone home screen optimization for AI-powered productivity
Robot Rundown (52:20)
- Sub-$3K humanoid robots changing the game
- SoftBank's $1T Arizona AI manufacturing hub
- Autonomous vehicle update: Tesla vs Waymo strategies
Australia Tech Policy Deep Dive (01:02:15)
- Energy crisis impact on tech competitiveness
- Innovation hub strategy discussion
- Cultural transformation needed for tech leadership
Companies & Resources Mentioned
AI Startups:
- Thinking Machines (Mira Murati)
- Cluely AI (A16Z-backed)
- Limitless (AI pendant)
- Eleven Labs
Major Players:
- OpenAI, Y Combinator
- Hugging Face, Tesla, Waymo
- SoftBank Vision Fund, TSMC
- A16Z (Andreessen Horowitz)
Key Figures:
- Mira Murati, Sam Altman, Elon Musk
- Masa Son (SoftBank)
Why This Episode Matters
The AI talent wars are reshaping venture capital, with teams commanding billion-dollar valuations before building products. Meanwhile, open-source robotics and autonomous vehicles are hitting critical adoption thresholds. Australia sits at a crossroads - blessed with resources but held back by policy and culture.
Perfect for: Founders, VCs, tech operators, and anyone tracking the intersection of AI, robotics, and geopolitics.
Built 2 Scale delivers weekly deep dives into the tech trends reshaping business. Subscribe for founder-focused insights on startups, AI agents, robotics, and the future of work.
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Subscribe: @built2scale
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